Chapter 5 - What Daniel Mercer Knew
The recording was dated three years earlier.
Four days before Daniel’s death.
Vivian played it six times.
Each time her brother’s final sentence felt heavier.
Dominic said nothing.
At last Vivian whispered, “Daniel worked for your father.”
Dominic looked at her.
She explained.
Before joining Apex, Vivian had believed Daniel was an independent forensic accountant.
He traveled constantly.
He never discussed clients.
“What if Salvatore hired him?”
Dominic contacted an old attorney who had served his father.
The man resisted until Dominic mentioned Daniel Mercer.
Then he became silent.
“Yes,” he finally admitted. “Your father hired him.”
“For what?”
“To audit the organization.”
Dominic’s father had suspected someone inside the Russo Syndicate was building a separate criminal network.
Daniel found evidence.
But he made a mistake.
He confronted the person privately.
Not Leo.
Someone above Leo.
Someone Dominic had never suspected.
His uncle.
Anthony Russo.
Salvatore’s younger brother.
Anthony had disappeared from Chicago after Salvatore’s death, supposedly retiring to Florida.
He had not retired.
He had been controlling Leo.
The entire conspiracy changed shape.
Leo was ambitious.
Anthony was patient.
For three years, Anthony had used Leo to hollow out Dominic’s empire from inside.
The stolen millions financed the takeover.
Daniel had discovered everything.
“He went into hiding,” the attorney explained. “Your father arranged it.”
“And Rebecca?”
“She went with him.”
Vivian stood so abruptly her chair fell backward.
“My brother and sister-in-law are alive?”
The attorney hesitated.
“They were.”
Were.
The word destroyed her hope.
Daniel and Rebecca had entered federal witness protection under false identities.
Six months later, Anthony’s people found them.
Rebecca was killed.
Daniel escaped.
After that, nobody knew where he went.
Vivian began crying silently.
For three years, she had mourned two people.
Now she learned one had survived only to lose the other alone.
Dominic ended the call.
Vivian walked to the window.
“I carried their baby because I thought it was the only part of them left.”
Dominic approached.
“You gave their daughter a life.”
“I would have helped Daniel.”
“He may have stayed away to protect you.”
“He should have trusted me.”
Dominic almost smiled at the irony.
“You sound familiar.”
She turned.
He was right.
Both had been wounded by people making choices in their name.
Vivian lowered her eyes.
“Do you think he’s alive?”
“Yes.”
“You don't know that.”
“No.”
“Then why say it?”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Because whoever sent that recording knew what happened in Milwaukee tonight. Leo doesn't know you're alive. Anthony may not. Daniel is the only remaining possibility.”
Hope frightened her more than grief.
Dominic reached toward her.
Then stopped before touching her.
Vivian noticed.
“You can.”
“What?”
“Touch me.”
His hand settled carefully against her shoulder.
It was astonishingly gentle.
Vivian leaned forward.
Her forehead touched his chest.
Dominic froze.
No one embraced Dominic Russo.
People shook his hand.
Feared him.
Obeyed him.
Occasionally desired him.
Nobody simply leaned against him because they were tired.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Vivian.
Then the baby kicked.
Dominic stepped backward as though shot.
Vivian laughed through tears.
“What was that?”
“A baby.”
“I know what a baby is.”
“Your expression suggests otherwise.”
The baby kicked again.
Vivian took Dominic’s hand and placed it against her stomach.
He became completely still.
A tiny movement pressed against his palm.
Something inside Dominic cracked open.
He remembered his father.
His mother.
A childhood before violence became ordinary.
For one strange second, he imagined a different life.
Then his phone rang.
Reality returned.
Leo had called an emergency meeting of every captain.
Without Dominic’s authorization.
“He’s moving.”
Vivian looked at him.
“What are you going to do?”
“Let him.”
Dominic finally understood that Leo believed Vivian’s death had destroyed the evidence.
So Dominic would pretend to know nothing.
At midnight, he entered the Russo headquarters alone.
Leo and eleven captains waited.
Anthony Russo sat at the far end of the table.
Dominic stopped.
His uncle smiled.
“Surprised to see family?”
Dominic removed his coat.
“No.”
He sat.
Anthony folded his hands.
“We’re concerned about your leadership.”
“Are you?”
“You protected a thief. Then she died before recovering our money.”
Leo watched Dominic closely.
Dominic remained calm.
Anthony continued.
“Perhaps Chicago needs someone less sentimental.”
Dominic almost laughed.
They believed Vivian had made him weak.
They had no idea she had given him the weapon he needed.
Then Leo placed a photograph on the table.
Dominic’s composure nearly broke.
It showed Vivian inside Dr. Kane’s clinic.
Taken that morning.
Leo smiled.
“You really should choose your guards more carefully.”
Dominic looked up.
May you like
“She’s alive,” Leo said.
“And now we know exactly where she is.”
